Lou Reed - Rock 'N' Roll Animal

[RT Fan]

Great thread, lot's of good background info. For me this album takes me back to college, SUNY @ New Paltz back in the late 70's and early 80's. If any of you have been there, and I think some of you have, you know what an interesting place it was back then. :yes:
Anyway there was this bar, Bacchus, that used to play this album routinely and at high volume. It was quite a trip to see a hundred + kids playing air guitar and singing along to "Sweet Jane." Thanks for the memories.

 

[shacky]

While I didn't attend New Paltz I knew all about it. Grew up in Croton and made a few trips up there.

 

[RT Fan]

While I didn't attend New Paltz I knew all about it. Grew up in Croton and made a few trips up there.

Shacky, some people took trips there and never left!!!

 

[shacky]

Not to steal this thread - but did you ever hear about the Timothy Leary connection in Poughkeepsie? Some of the best LSD ever made came out of that area.

They talk about it in a book about the Beatles. The Beatles got a load of this high quality blotter acid from the Tim Leary group. It was very high grade.

 

[24HACKER]

Bought it new bitd - used to get into the mood and crank it - his best album by far.

 

[shacky]

I agree hole heartedly it is his best album. And to think he made such a stink about the band steeling the show. Artists can be fickle thats for sure.

I use to also like Sally Can't dance album - rather 8-track in my '70 Camaro. Great period for Rock and Roll!!!

 

[bikelike]

I just played the album once more . I also love the 2nd album a lot. Whereas the my vinyl copy of 'Life' sounded much brighter than RRA, now the wonderfully remastered RRA sounds much brighter. Maybe a bit too bright. On 'Life'. The cymbals, Lou's voice, the applause, everything sounds a bit nasal. I think it never has been digitally remastered. My prayers go to that this will ever happen.

 

[bikelike]

Poor Lou. He couldn't handle all the attention for Steve and Dick. Whereas he is doing an amazing act.

I love the combination of his rough and tender side. In the RRA concert the rough side excels like I hardly ever heard. The raw screaming in Lady Day, Waiting for the man and Vicious still touch me deeply. I am writing a book on how to deal with negativity in life. In the chapter 'revolting against the terror of the positive' I call this screaming 'giving voice to ages of repression and frustration'.

Sure the band did an absolute awesome job. For me the real power of the concert is Lou.

 

[madDdog67]

PS...for me this is the only Lou Reed album really worth owning...

It's the only one I own. As a guitarist, this was jaw dropping good stuff back then, and still smokes today!

 

[Gang-Twanger]

SWEET JANE one of my favorites..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FdWPeHFAMk&feature=fvst

I also love the way they did it PRIOR to the R&R Animal performances (or was this after). This Paris show with a slightly-different lineup is pure funk (Lou was looking well there That's a dangerous game he was playing back in those days). https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Uc26EFI1_nw

By the way, that mid '80's RCA/Victor pressing is actually quite-good. Mine sounds great and tracks beautifully. Perfectly-centered. Nothing wrong with the old Dynaflex 1st pressing as far as the mastering is concerned.

 

[VintageVibe]

It's the only one I own. As a guitarist, this was jaw dropping good stuff back then, and still smokes today!

Get " Lou Reed Live". It's the companion album of "RRA". Same show, additional song. The RCA release can be had for under $10.